§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the initiatives launched by his Department since May 1997 under which specific grants are allocated, indicating in each case and for each financial year the funding provided by central Government. [109313]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 10 February 2000]: The bulk of my Department's expenditure goes to its sponsored bodies, details of whose grants schemes can be found in their annual reports and accounts. My Department has launched the following initiatives:
DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund. £2 million DCMS funding (and £1 million Wolfson Foundation funding) each financial year since 1997-98 for projects which enhance the facilities or services of public libraries in England.
DCMS/Museums and Galleries Commission ICT Challenge Fund. £0.5 million over the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 for ICT projects developed by partnerships of museums (main beneficiaries are non national, non designated museums). The bulk of the funding will fall in 2000–01.
DCMS/MGC Education Challenge Fund. £0.5 million over the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 for Area Museum Councils to develop museums' educational work/resources. The bulk of the funding will fall in 2000–01.
MGC/Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Designated Museums Challenge Fund. £3 million for 1999–2000, £4 million for 2000£01 and £8 million for 2001–02. Although the scheme is administered by MGC/MLAC, I retain the final approval of awards.